Dunstan, Prenzler need to avoid ‘gotcha’ politics

Madison County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan called out his political opponent, Treasurer Kurt Prenzler, Wednesday over emails Prenzler sent from his personal account regarding a petition drive to cap the amount the county can tax for its general fund.

In the emails, Prenzler included information about how to contribute to his campaign challenging Dunstan for his seat in November’s general election. Dunstan questioned whether the move was improper — or even legal.

It was an easy question to answer. We did. It took about five minutes.

“It’s unusual, but I don’t think it’s anything improper,” Illinois State Board of Elections Assistant Executive Director Jim Tenuto said in a quick phone call. “I don’t think it’s anything prohibitive. As long as he discloses about the (financial) report, I don’t see anything improper about that.”

OK. Well, that’s settled.

Since Prenzler announced his bid for chairman, he’s been feisty — sending out dozens of emails criticizing Dunstan on a range of topics. And he usually waits until about 4:45 p.m. on Friday so it’s difficult for news media to solicit a response from the other side. Maybe he hopes some of the less intrepid outlets will immediately copy and paste it to their websites word-for-word without doing their due journalist diligence — and he’s right, some do.

Some of them we ignore, or put on the opinion page because they simply aren’t newsworthy.

For months, Dunstan played it cool. He’d respond to Prenzler’s attacks when warranted, generally without vitriol.

Then, on March 3, he kind of snapped, having an email sent out with the heading, “DUNSTAN BLASTS TREASURER’S DECEITFUL ALLEGATIONS.”

“Since declaring his candidacy against Madison County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan, Kurt Prenzler has undertaken a campaign of political bullying and spreading half-truths in a tired attempt to discredit the significant accomplishments of the chairman,” it read.

We get it. Someone can only take so much unprovoked criticism before they get frosty — but it doesn’t mean they should go building a snowman.

On Wednesday, Dunstan lobbed a snowball of his own.

After spending months defending himself and his administration from questionable attacks, Dunstan went on the offensive for the first time, really, and it was on a non-issue. If he really wanted to know if Prenzler’s email was improper, he could have called the board of elections — like we did — and found out.

It took the rhetoric of this rivalry to a level to which it hasn’t yet been — the ol’, “Everything you do is wrong and I’m going to yell and scream about it, even if it actually isn’t wrong” routine.

The voters of Madison County don’t want to see bickering. Aside from the issues, Prenzler and Dunstan should both campaign on their own values and accomplishments. The voters of Madison County simply don’t need anymore “gotcha” politics.